Parents
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a self-directed program that encourages reading from an early age. Did you know that reading to your child is the best way to prepare them to read on their own? With this program, we provide you with a booklet to track the number of books you are reading to your child, and they earn prizes along the way.
Storytimes
We offer storytimes for ages 0-6, including an all-ages family storytime. If you’re a kid, they’re fun and entertaining. If you’re a parent or caregiver, you come away with new songs and books to have fun with later. Everybody wins! See our storytime schedule on our calendar.
Parenting Collection
Browse our collection of books targeted specifically at parents. Topics include teaching materials, child development, picture books dealing with difficult topics, and more.
Theme Bags
The Youth Services Department assembles theme bags, which are backpacks filled with books, music, and activities to support many themes. These kits are designed for use with kids age 2-5 . Each bag checks out for three weeks. View our theme bag topics here.
Online Resources
Access child-friendly learning resources here.
Museum Adventure Pass
History and culture that excite and inspire, gardens that engage and soothe, hands-on discovery that educates and entertains – all of these and more are waiting for you.
Use your library card to receive a Museum Adventure Pass, and get free admission or a special discount, depending on location, at one of the Chicago area museums.
One Museum Adventure Pass may be checked out per family, per loan period. The loan period is SEVEN DAYS and will expire after the date printed on the pass.
Get your pass at the Adult or Youth Services Desks or request one through email during open library hours only.
We can only offer passes to Grayslake cardholders. If you have a library card from a different library, check HERE to see if your library participates in the program.
We believe that getting ready to read starts early! We are here to help you find opportunities to read, sing, and play with your children, whether they're swaddled in a blanket or learning to write their own name.
Beginning Readers
We have created a book leveling system to best meet the needs of beginning readers. We have four levels and labeled all of the books in our Easy Reader collection accordingly.
Each book is leveled as:
Blue - Just Getting Started
Yellow - On My Way
Green - Reading Alone
Red - First Chapter Books
If your child is ready for a new challenge then you can try our “Moving On Up” collection. These books can be found in our Youth Fiction collection with yellow stripes on the spines.